Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-25
BIG MERCANTILE LEAKS.
More bout the Visit of Pinkerton
DetectiYe to Charleston.

More bout the Visit of a PinkeTtOn
Detective to Charleston.
CHARLESTON, ;. c., Jan. 24.-Very
little else has been talked about on the
street corners and free lunch route for the
past four or five days than the recent
mysterious visit to Charleston of Pink
ertOn detective and the object OF his visit.
1t is now generally admitted that the
Pinkerton man mas been in Charleston
five or six months. Opinions vary from
four to SIX months, but agree that he has
been here a long time, and 1t was stated
yesterday that he had worked up his
case reported the findings to his employ
ers and had departed. Sitting the mass
of rumors that are in circulation the fol-
Ing may he taken as the substance of what
is generally believed: II is said that
certain very prominent and very wealthy
wholesale house on East Bay (the name
of the firm IS openly mentioned has since
the death OF the senior and lounder, some
five or SIX years ago, fallen behind from
800, 600 to $4,000. Various figures are
given ranging between these two sums.
SUSPICION AROUSED.
About six months ago the proprietOrs
began to suspect something wrong and
determined to get at the bottom of 1t aud
TO find out where the leak was. With
soon after this a young man arrived in
the city, said TO have been distant rela-
tive OF one of the friends of one OF the
members OF the firm. He was given
place in the establishment, some subordi-
nate place, with the understanding that
he might work his way up and that the
firm would, if he justified their expecta-
tons, expedite little his journey to
the top Of the commercial ladder. 1t
was understood that he was the son of
well-tO-do parents, who were anxlOus to
have him educated 10 commercial life,
and be was introduced into society and
in a modest way petted. From the SUD-
ordinate position first given him he rose
rapidly through several lower grades
porter, Waterman, assistant shipping
clerk, salesman, etc, remaining in each
position long enough to acquire knOwl-
edge of the work and TO form acquaintance
with his fellow clerks.
PINKERToN.
About a week ago, the story goes, his
report had been forwarded to mis- agency
and by them sent to the employers. The
new salesman was then DISCHARGED and
sent home, 1t ia needless to say that the
young man sent to acquire a commercial
education was one of PInkerton's men. 1t
is stated that as a result Of his education
the whole business was exposed, the leak
ascertained and the parties who had had
their kettles under the leak designated.
The report now is that the firm is treating
with them with view to recovering a
portion OF the spoils. 1t is
SAID that one of the clerks
or statesmen, or whoever he is (nobody
seems to know who be ia), has offered
So, 900 to get off. This enterprising youth,
50 the story goes, has managed in five or
six years to accumulate a deposit of
SO 600 in a city bank, and to do this on a
salary $40 per month. There are said to
be three or four others who have been
equally successful in business, and it is
stated thai the reason the matter has
been kept quiet is because the firm IS ca
deavoring to compromise with its weaI1lay
employees. THIS, it may be repeated. is
simply n summary of the Thousand and
one rumors that are flying about cnh-
densed and put into narrative eforn. s